One thing that is nails on chalkboard to me is when I hear my fellow nurses use double negatives and other blatant grammar mistakes. I'm speaking of English as a first language, domestically born and raised people.
I feel as this detracts from the professional image of nursing. We are supposed to be educated professionals. Poor grammar makes nursing look like a blue collar trade to those who are educated, such as our physicians and many members of the public.
Let me clarify that I don't harshly judge the intelligence or moral character of people with poor grammar. But, I feel strongly that nurses should project an image of being educated professionals in our speech and demeanor. Thanks for reading.
"she's been orientating for a week now..." or "i have a new nurse orientating with me..." grrrrrrrr! a nurse orients, and when finished, is through with orientation. not through with orientating.
there. i feel better now. between "orientating" and "phenergran", i can just work myself into a tizzy.
I agree that 'orient' sounds better, but what a thing for so many people to get so excited about! I wonder what some people do when someone posts or talks about 'HIPPA,' 'physician's assistants,' or not wanting to work with 'CNA's.'
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Well, I come from your planet. "Orientate" puts me over the edge. But when I've objected to it on allnurses.com, I have been put in my grammatical place by primarily English posters.
Apparently, it really IS a word
It is. It's also the same planet where people say "preventative." GAH!
Specializes in Cardiology, Research, Family Practice.
I have had the same gripe for over a decade, and was devastated when I looked it up on Dictionary.com and discovered that it is indeed an acceptable word. I feel the same when I hear people say "dilatate."
Another devastating blow I faced was learning that the dictionary accepts both pronunciations of the word nuclear: noo-klee-er, or noo-kyuh-ler. Shoot me.
Specializes in MPH Student Fall/14, Emergency, Research.
Yes, I was under the impression that 'orientate' is used in the UK and its equivalent in the US is 'orient'. I say both quite interchangeably, never thinking that orientate was the equivalent of a non-word like irregardless. Perhaps a UK nurse can confirm.
Saw the title to this post and literally laughed out loud! lol I thought I was the only person who was driven nuts by this. And someone mentioned "phenergRan". LOL Gotta say that one bugs me too. And I think someone mentioned on another post one that we all hear a lot......... the "Can you get a O2 sTat on Mr. Smith?" I think you mean SAT! lol and to have co-workers on a respiratory unit doing this. uggg. Makes me hope that they know that this is short for SATuration.
CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN
1,174 Posts
I am alert and oriented if I'm from the the east and alert and orientated if I'm from the south....ouch!